The City of Lights

I proposed to my girlfriend in Paris last year, and it turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life. Yet, I found myself sweating uncontrollably for three months prior, mainly because I had no idea where in Paris I was going to do it. So, a week before the trip, I researched these 20 locations. Some we never got to, weren't right for us or simply wouldn't cooperate. Thankfully, one ultimately did. I hope one works for you, too. Bonne chance.

The Top of the Eiffel Tower

Let’s begin with the obvious. Here’s the thing about proposing at the top of the Eiffel Tower: Yes, you can drink champagne up there and the view is amazing, but there’s also a good chance that, while you’re down on one knee, delivering the speech of your life, some tourist will cripple you with a selfie stick. My advice? Propose in the middle where there’s more room and the views are still amazing. Also, go at sunset.

The Medici Fountain in the Luxembourg Gardens

This was one of the many places I’d hoped to propose to my girlfriend. It’s beautiful, tranquil and secluded, which can be difficult to find in Paris during the high season. Yet, as we approached it, we found it completely fenced off due to winter renovations. Moral of the story: it’s a great place to propose from April to September.

The Rooftop of the Terrass Hotel

My now fiancée and I ate here about an hour before we got engaged and it was one of the best views of Paris we had the entire trip. If you've always dreamed of putting the ring in a glass of champagne, this rooftop bar is for you.

Place des Vosges

Unlike the Pont des Arts, the Place des Vosges is relatively easy to pronounce, and one you’ll enjoy saying again and again. Finished in 1612, it is the oldest planned square in Paris.

The Ferris Wheel at the Place de la Concorde

It’s a Ferris wheel in the middle of Paris. What else could you want? Fried dough and powdered sugar? Because, yes, that’s what I want, too.

The Parc des Buttes-Chaumont

Aside from it being stunning – I mean, look at it; it looks like something out of Game of Thrones – it would just be really fun to propose here due to the name.

The Louvre Pyramid

One of the most iconic spots in Paris, the Louvre Pyramid would make a great proposal spot if your significant other is an art lover.

Shakespeare & Co.

Shakespeare & Co. is a small bookstore in the Latin Quarter where Ernest Hemingway, James Joyce and other 20th century literary icons hung out. Bottom line: This is for the book lover in your life.

In a Cafe

There’s just something so romantic about Parisian cafes, especially if your loved one loves coffee. Check out Le Petit Marcel, Le Pure Café and Le Bistrot du Peintre – all charming cafes that’d make great spots to pop the question.

From Behind the Clock in the Musée d’Orsay

If you’ve been dating your significant other for a long time, there’s a good chance they’ve told you, “The clock is ticking,” or some other variation upon the theme. Thus, what better way to propose to this person than by walking up to a giant clock, letting them deliver this line once again, then responding, “Oh yeah?”

On the Champs Élysées, Beneath the Holiday Lights

Most likely if you’re dating a fashionista, they’ve been talking about shopping on the Champs Élysees for months, now. Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Prada – it will be a terrifying exercise in fiscal responsibility. But during the holidays, beneath the twinkling lights on the trees, it’s also a great place to propose.

The Arc de Triomphe

You spent thousands of dollars on the ring. You spent thousands of dollars to get to Europe. You convinced someone to date you long enough that it wouldn’t be crazy to ask them to marry you. This is a triumphant moment, so where better to ask the big question than at the Arc de Triomphe?

In Front of Notre Dame

If you’re anything like me, you still can’t get enough of the DeBeers “A diamond is forever” commercial where the guy scares away an entire flock of pigeons when, seemingly to no one, he shouts, “I love this woman!” While it seems this took place in St. Mark’s Square in Venice, you can basically find the same atmosphere in Paris in front of Notre Dame. Just be vigilant for pickpockets.

The Champs de Mars at Midnight

The Eiffel Tower sparkles every hour on the hour for five minutes. The Champ de Mars is lovely to stroll after the crowds have subsided, so take your loved one there and wait for midnight.

The Versailles Orangerie

Versailles, as a general rule of thumb, is a madhouse during the high season. But thankfully there are acres of gardens in which to spread out. My suggestion? The Versailles Orangerie.

Château de Rambouillet

If images of the French Revolution ruin the romance of Versailles for you, but you still want that bourgeois vibe, Château de Rambouillet is your ticket. Located 30 miles outside the city, it is still the summer residence of the president of France.

The Trocadéro

It doesn’t get more Paris than this with views overlooking the Eiffel Tower and the Seine. Pro tip: Go at sunrise and hire a photographer to capture the entire thing.

The Square du Vert-Galant

If you jump off the Pont des Arts and swim a few hundred yards west, you’ll wash up on a small park on the Pont Neuf. I personally have not stepped foot on this little bit of paradise, but I can tell you it’s beautiful.

The Wall of Love

Located in perhaps the loveliest part of the City of Lights (Montmartre) is a wall dedicated entirely to the notion of love. Aptly titled “The Wall of Love,” it features 612 tiles made from enameled lava with the phrase “I love you” written across them in 250 different languages. Your mission is to learn how to pronounce all of them.

On the Steps of the Sacre Coeur

After many failed attempts, this is where I eventually popped the question. It was late in the evening, raining lightly, and we had the entire square to ourselves. Overlooking the city, I felt the ring in my pocket and turned to her. “So,” I said, trying to remember the speech I’d planned. “What do you say we... take our relationship to the next level?” And this is the power of Paris: She still said yes.